They had a gluten free menu which was very helpful but the waiter wasn't able to answer a lot of detailed questions. Luckily, I knew what I could and couldn't eat. I had the crab legs which were delicious!

Worst experience at a restaurant. Hostess, waitress had no idea what on the menu was GF, but we found options online. Besides that, a whole streamer pot was dropped by me. That would have been ok but it wasn't all cleaned up until we were ready to leave. They forgot the corn and potatoes, brought a margarita not once, but twice, with salt even though my friend ordered it without. I know I sound crabby, excuse the pun, but I truly almost never complain! The good was good... here's hoping I don't get sick.

There was a very small menu and not many sides. I left hungry and over paid for 12 shrimp I had to order twice due to them putting seasoning on it at first. The staff was great just not a good restaurant for celiac customers.

The manager and server seemed knowledgeable about celiac disease; vast portions; very popular restaurant; my Caesar salad was fine; apparently the shellfish dishes are very tasty; the non-gluten-free pizza was also good, apparently.

While visiting the area last month, I took a chance and dined here with 2 other celiacs and 2 GeeFReers.
The server was so funny and attentive and she made us all a funny bib which made the experience even more enjoyable.
We had a blast!
The steamed Crab was superb! Just delicious and succulent. Added bonus: None of us had any ill effects from dining out--they took good care of us.No cross- contamination issues whatsoever!
The have a GF menu with many options.
I highly recommend this place and I look forward to my next visit so I can go there again. :)

I grew up in Florida but have been living in the city of Richmond for the past 15 years. I was having a serious home-sick sea food craving like never before and after searching around I read the mixed reviews of this place and decided to give it a chance. The staff was very knowledgeable about celiacs and the manager even came to my table to go over my options (they do have a gf specific menu). The Steam Pots were pricey as people have stated but it's giant pots of seafood- as a reasonably minded consumer I understand the price of seafood is higher than that of a typical chain restaurant entre. The prices were not unreasonable for the quality and sheer amount of food you receive. Being a chain, Joe's Crab Shack's seafood is going to be from frozen supplies, even though they are located in touristy beach areas. Any diner should know this. Taking that into consideration, It was delicious and I had no reactions from the 4 steam pots my partner and I consumed between us. Although there are many locally owned seafood restaurants to enjoy in VA Beach my first stop was here because they had specific gf menu that I could view online before stepping foot into a location. I didn't want to risk cross contamination on the first day of my vacation. A lot of smaller establishments either don't have any gf reviews out yet or said they couldn't accommodate gf options when I called (or had no idea what gluten was). My personal experience was great and I will surely eat here in the future so long as they don't try to place a bib on me ever again.

I ordered off the kids menu just because I was too too hungry! But I got the steamed pot and it was SOO GOOD!!! There was that many options but what they did it was incredible. What I had was 4 crab legs, 2 shrimp, a potato, corn, and a sausage and I have never had better seafood and service ever !! AMAZING :))

Little to no options for Celiac folks. You either get a "salad" that just consists of lettuce and shrimp or the expensive steam pot (which is expensive). Our waiter had no idea what I was talking about when I mentioned the cross contamination piece.

There are no inexpensive GF choices here, but the steamed crab pots are very good, just like the service. Our server talked to her manager and to the kitchen staff to make sure there were no cross contamination issues.

They did have a gluten free menu, but not a lot of options on it. Basically just the steam pots, shrimp and a salad was gf. My daughter ended up just getting the shrimp. Agree with others that servers did not seem very knowledgeable about the gf food items.

I always order a steam pot here. I love them. I'm not a mega eater when I go out tot eat, but I feel comfortable eating a lot here and knowing I'm not going to be glutened. Each time we go, I make sure my waitress is informed. I have not had a problem in any of the times I have been here. I definitely recommend the steam pots on the gf menu to gf people.

Most if the items on the gf menu are steamer pots for 1 or 2. If that's what you want, there are quite a few to choose from. There are a couple of salads and a few grilled shrimp or fish options. Only 2 kids' options: boiled shrimp and a kids' steamer pot.
Prices are on the high side. The steamer pots start at $25 and go up. I probably would have rated it $$$. However, the staff was great, and the food was, too.

My daughter has celiac and is VERY sensitive. I called ahead and spoke to the manager Randy, who was very knowledgable about gluten and cross contamination. Told me they would open a new bottle of oil and use a clean pan to make her fries. I was extremely impressed with the service when we arrived and was confident of her safety. She has had no reaction! Food was amazing!

For about $35 I got:
1 x Rubbery over-cooked bland lobster
6 x Rubbery over-cooked bland shrimp
1/4 of a Rubbery over-cooked bland crab (mostly legs)
2 x Under-cooked bland red potatoes
1 x Small under-cooked bland corn on the cob
Everything fit on one dinner sized plate and was enough food for one person and maybe a child, tops. There was so much water in it, it was very messy. Most of it was so over-cooked or under-cooked as to be inedible. I ate the shrimp, corn and my tiny portion of crab and that was it. I know this is the desert and I shouldn't expect great seafood at great prices but this was ridiculous.

I had a great experience here! I called ahead and talked to the manager, he was well informed and let me know he would take care of my food personally when I came in. Got there and asked for the GF menu and he showed up to my table in seconds! He cooked our order and came to the table after to check on us :-) yummmm lobster and shrimp! Awesome treat!

Gluten wise it's great considering seafood is gluten free. But as far as the quality of the seafood there it's not worth the money. Hooters right down the road has cheaper shrimp and crab legs with about the same or a tad better on quality but atleast cheaper

One of the managers' girlfriend is gluten free and he always comes out to the table to make sure things go well for us. He knows other options on the menu that are gf but not on the gf menu. I always have a great experience here!